Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today we honor enslaved African Americans with the unveiling of this great stone and marker once quarried by them for The Capitol of the United States. This dedicated marker will serve as a reminder to all who enter The Capitol of the hands and hearts that built this great place that fosters democracy at the highest level.

I include a poem penned in honor of those enslaved African Americans by Albert Caswell.

The poem is entitled,

And From These Hands

And . . .

And from these hands . . .

As now so stands

A Temple to Liberty so very grand

One of Freedom, for every child, woman, and man

From these hands

For out of their blood, sweat, and tears

As upon this Hill as now so appears

Is but a shrine to democracy so very clear

From these hands

Whether Captain Pointer, pointing the way

Guiding those ships,

As upon them this most sacred marble and stone so lay

Or at the very top,

How poignant, Reid so helped Freedom to keep watch

Now both night and day

So listen so closely here,

As to heart speaks so clear

Of what it took to build this great temple here

And To Be Free

Much effort and sacrifice indeed

And as you enter your heart skips a beat

Into the great Rotunda at night, as like a prayer

Can you but not feel their very souls in there?

All because these fine men, who once so persevered

Oh how ironic as was this fate

That this Temple of Freedom,

Was so once built by slaves!

From . . . These . . . Hands . . . which gave!

As their souls are so now etched everywhere

But look at what they so made

As generations have so come to pass

And new hands in this temple have labored steadfast

All in our nation's struggle to so ask

The ones, who have so fought against hatred so clear

Trying to vanquish discrimination year after year

Can you but not feel Martin's tears?

And today, if they could all be here

Would they but not so shed a tear?

All at what they so see here

So say a prayer, and all of these

Who but with their hands and hearts,

And souls so built this great Temple of Liberty

The ones who so placed this great stone

All in that fight

All in Freedom's home,

So one day we could all be here

Free

So on this day

This marker of remembrance we now place

All for what they so taught us,

So gave

As we see their great efforts all etched into this stone

They made

Like quarried stone, Freedom too does not come so easy!

Only through such blood, sweat, and tears can this all be!

In our lives, what have we made

From . . . these . . . hands . . .

Mr. Speaker, it is with a deep sadness and heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to Whitney Houston, a woman whose extraordinary voice touched the heart of America.

Ms. Houston died on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills. She was 48 years old.

Ms. Houston's musical career began in 1985, when her debut album, Whitney Houston, was released and she became an instant musical sensation. She produced some of the most memorable music of her generation, including her signature hit, ``I Will Always Love You.''

Whitney Houston was one of the biggest names in the music industry and her accomplishments as a singer are many. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards in her lifetime. Houston was also one of the world's bestselling music artists, having sold over 200 million albums and singles worldwide.

She will always be remembered as one of the greatest voices who ever graced the Earth. To have heard the voice of Whitney Houston was to have witnessed singing perfection. My heart goes out to her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, and all of her family and friends who are mourning the loss of this remarkable woman.

Mr. Speaker, where do broken hearts go? Millions of hearts broke at the news that with her passing, we lost one of the greatest gifts of all; the pure joy we felt whenever Whitney sang one of those songs that made us get up and want to dance with somebody.

Yes, we almost had it all. Whitney Houston left us too soon, but her remarkable voice will live in our hearts as one moment in time we will never forget.

I request a moment of silence in her honor and memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, remember and celebrate the life of Don Cornelius, the legendary creator and host of ``Soul Train,'' the ground-breaking television program that helped define my generation and revolutionized the way Americans--and millions of others around the world--learned, experienced, and loved soul music. Don Cornelius passed away on February 2, at the age of 75.

``Soul Train,'' which he hosted from 1971 to 1993, exposed African American recording artists and groups to national audiences and boosted the reach and popularity of every artist who appeared on the show. The list reads like a who's who of musical giants: Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5; James Brown, the ``Godfather of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and the Pips; the Temptations, the Supremes, Earth, Wind, and Fire; Marvin Gaye; Al Green; Chaka Khan, and the mighty, mighty Dells.

Don Cornelius joined the Marines and was stationed in South Korea during the height of the Cold War. He later became a television journalist reporting on civil rights and urban issues. This background prepared him to conceive and make real ``Soul Train,'' which succeeded in using the love of good music to help bridge racial and social divisions in our country.

As one of the millions of young girls who tuned in every week to ``Soul Train'' to sing and dance along with that week's musical guests, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Don Cornelius for the sheer joy and happiness he brought to so many people and for ``Soul Train'' 's positive impact in bringing people of diverse backgrounds together around their shared love of good music and dance.

We will always remember ``Soul Train,'' the iconic television show best known for its flamboyant colors, striking fashion, great music, revolutionary dance moves, and the famous ``Soul Train Line.''

Don Cornelius lived a consequential life. He made a difference. And for that, I conclude by wishing him, as he always concluded each ``Soul Train'' show by wishing us, as always, ``love, peace and soul!''

Mr. Speaker, this February we recognize and celebrate the 36th commemoration of Black History Month. This month we celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the history of our great Nation, and pay tribute to trailblazers, pioneers, heroes, and leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, U.S. Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce, U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, Astronauts Dr. Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. and Mae C. Jemison, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks just to name a few of the countless number of well-known and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped our Nation become a more perfect union. The history of the United States has been marked by the great contributions of African American activists, leaders, writers, and artists.

As a member of Congress, I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants whose struggles and triumphs made it possible for me to stand here today and continue the fight for equality, justice, and progress for all, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Mr. Speaker, I particularly wish to acknowledge the contributions of African American women in shaping our Nation's history. As such, this Black History Month we honor groundbreaking ``Black Women in American Culture and History'' like U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; activists Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks; astronaut Mae C. Jemison; authors Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks; all of whom have each in their own way, whether through courageous activism, cultural contributions, or artistic creativity, forged social and political change, and forever changed our great Nation for the better.

As we celebrate Black History Month, let us pay tribute to those who have come before us, and pay forward to future generations by addressing what is the number one issue for African American families, and all American families today: preserving the American promise of economic opportunity for all. Our immediate focus must be job creation, and enacting legislation that will foster and lay the foundation for today's and tomorrow's generation of groundbreaking activists, leaders, scientists, writers and artists to continue contributing to the greatness of America. We must work to get Americans back to work. We must continue to preserve the American Dream for all.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in celebration of the heroic and historic acts of African Americans and their indispensible contributions to this great Nation. It is through our work in creating possibilities for today and future generations that we best honor the accomplishments and legacy of our predecessors.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1173, a bill that would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program (CLASS). Instead of repealing the CLASS Act and leaving millions of Americans in need of long-term care with the status quo, Congress should be working together to improve the program.

Madam Chair, the CLASS program was designed to provide Americans with a voluntary long-term care insurance program that would make long-term care more affordable and accessible. Statistics show that there are currently over 10 million Americans in need of long-term care; by 2020, that number is expected to grow to 15 million. We have an obligation to ensure that those in need of long-term care have affordable options available to them.

The United States is facing a long-term care crisis. With the Nation's baby boomers nearing retirement, we can expect to see the number of seniors in need of long-term continue to rise in the coming years. Due to the high costs of obtaining long-term support services, it is estimated that there are 52 million unpaid caregivers--mostly relatives of those in need--providing long-term care in the home.

In my district, there are over 115,000 seniors and 12,557 residents collecting Social Security disability insurance--most of whom will most likely need long-term care services at some point in their lifetime. In addition, there are 85,444 of my constituents who are nearing retirement age and would benefit from the peace of mind of having insurance coverage for long-term care.

Each year, families pay more than $50 billion out-of-pocket to provide long-term support services to loved ones. Many of these families are already hard-pressed financially, but do not have any other options available to them. Working to fix the CLASS program will provide working adults a national, voluntary, and premium-financed insurance program for the purchase of long-term care services and supports. Instead of working to fix the CLASS Act, the Republican majority is trying to repeal this important program in its entirety.

Madam Chair, it is estimated that about 70 percent of people over 65 will require long-term care services at some point during their lifetime. Medicare covers only minimal long-term care services such as short-term skilled nursing care and limited home health services.

Medicaid now accounts for nearly 50 percent of all long-term care spending nationwide. Unfortunately, Americans wishing to utilize Medicaid for long-term care services must impoverish themselves in order to qualify. In many cases, families are left with no choice but Medicaid after they are forced to spend down their income and assets to pay for costly long-term care services.

Insurance policies in the private market which cover long-term care services are often too expensive for most Americans, and currently pay for only about 7 percent of spending on long-term care. Approximately only nine percent of Americans aged 50 or older have private insurance policies that cover long-term care services. The CLASS Act seeks to address the lack of available coverage by making long-term care services more accessible and affordable for working families.

The CLASS Act provides a framework with which to build a viable long- term care program. Repealing this much needed program brings us back to square one in our effort to provide working families with a national insurance program that enables them to plan for their long-term care needs.

Madam Chair, this is just another GOP attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act one piece at a time. The American people deserve better and Congress needs to work together to ensure that Americans of all income levels have access to long-term care services in the event that they become necessary.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against passage of this misguided legislation that simply ignores the need to address our Nation's long-term care crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the Conference Report for H.R. 658, the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. I want to thank Chairman Mica, Ranking Member Rahall, the other conferees, and the leadership for finally bringing an FAA Reauthorization bill to the floor.

Nearly five years has passed since the last FAA Reauthorization Act passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President expired. Instead of passing a new clean reauthorization bill five years ago, the reauthorization process was subverted by the desire of some members across the aisle to hijack the FAA reauthorization process as a to advance narrow ideological interests. This politicization of what had previously been a nonpartisan approach to developing aviation legislation was a great disservice to our nation, particularly in the economically challenged conditions of the past several years.

Every day thousands of men and women give their best to ensure that the American civil aviation industry remains the best in the world. And no group of persons suffered more from Congress' failure to pass a short-term clean FAA extension last August than the airline pilots, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, baggage handlers, mechanics, technicians, customer service representatives, security personnel, and others whose livelihood depends upon a functioning civil aviation sector.

This past August, House Republican leadership, giving in to the demands of its extremist Tea Party faction and ignoring the long- standing Congressional tradition of passing clean extensions of the FAA reauthorization bill, broke precedent and attached to the bill several controversial ideologically extreme policy riders to weaken unions and kill jobs, knowing full well it would never be approved by the Senate. Then it adjourned and left town for the August recess.

This abdication of responsibility resulted in the furlough of more than 4,000 FAA non-partisan career civil servants who in many cases had spent more than two decades working to provide the public with safe, modern and efficient air travel. This Republican-initiated FAA shutdown resulted in work stoppages on 217 construction projects worth more $11 billion that had been undertaken to upgrade the nation's air traffic control and safety infrastructure.

This House majority's irresponsible action' more than 86,000 construction jobs at risks around the country and unconscionably jeopardized the ability of nearly 90,000 household to pay their rent or mortgages, educate their children, and put food on the table.

In addition to the havoc wreaked on the families of the employees involved, the Republicans' forced shutdown of the FAA cost the American taxpayer $300 million in lost airport fees. To make matters worse, instead of passing the savings resulting from the lapsed airline ticket tax on to air travelers, almost every one of the airlines raised their ticket prices and pocketed the money.

By any measure the House Republicans political gambit was a colossal blunder and the resulting public backlash led the chastened majority to drop the odious anti-labor provisions and pass a clean FAA extension thereby providing time for the parties to reconcile their differences and reach agreement on the long-term reauthorization measure before us today.

Turning to the merits of the bill before us, there is much in it that I approve and support.

First, the conference report maintains funding at current levels, authorizing a $63.4 billion investment in our Nation's aviation system for fiscal years, FY, 2012-15. Of this amount, approximately $13.4 billion is allocated for the Airport Improvement Program, AIP, $38.3 billion for FAA Operations, $672 million for Research, Engineering & Development, and $10.9 billion for FAA's Facilities & Equipment.

Second, the bill provides about $ 1 billion in funding authority for FAA's Next Generation, NextGen, air traffic modernization program, approximately the same as the past two years. When fully implemented, NextGen will complete the transformation of an antiquated air traffic control system based on World War II-era technology to one based on 21st Century GPS technology. Additionally, the bill accelerates the development of a NextGen satellite-based navigation system to provide pilots with more accurate information to track aircraft and weather. And to strengthen accountability for the progress on the NextGen program, the Conference Report sets a schedule for FAA and creates the new position of Chief NextGen Officer to oversee the effort.

Third, stripped from the Conference Report is the controversial House Republican provision that would have increased the percentage of employees who must vote in favor of a union before the National Mediation Board could certify the union as their representative. Had this provision not been dropped, it would have unfairly tilted the playing field against employees because a union could be certified only if it won the votes of a majority of all employees in a particular group, not just those who actually voted. It is clearly unfair to consider a vote not cast as a vote against. To put it another way: there is a gigantic difference between not voting and voting No! I am pleased that this anti-democratic provision has been dropped from the bill.

Fourth, the bill establishes a process for mediation and binding arbitration of impasses between the FAA and the collective-bargaining representatives of employees to help ensure that disputes are resolved fairly and efficiently without any disruption to the aviation system.

Fifth, the bill requires the FAA and OSHA to move forward with long- stalled rules to extend OSHA protections to flight attendants.

Sixth, the bill will help relieve congestion at many of the nation's interior hub airports by authorizing eight new round-trip flights between Reagan National Airport and airports located more than 1,250 miles away.

Finally, I am also pleased that H.R. 658 includes protections for passengers. For example, air travelers have greater assurance they will be treated fairly while traveling. Tarmac delays are something we have all experienced

at some point while traveling and can become frustrating to passengers who have no information as to when they will begin their travel. Now, airlines and airports would be required to have emergency contingency plans to take care of passengers who are involved in long uncomfortable tarmac delays. Passengers will no longer have to sit and wait on the tarmac wondering if they will ever move or be fed.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and having served on its Aviation Subcommittee, I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues to secure passage of a clean FAA reauthorization bill. But I cannot support a reauthorization bill containing anti-labor provisions that undermine the rights of workers to bargain collectively over the terms and conditions of their employment. Regrettably, this bill does.

The bill contains statutory amendments to the Railway Labor Act which undermines 75 years of experience by the National Mediation Board's, NMB, in conducting representation elections in the air and rail industries. By removing the NMB's explicit statutory discretion in determining whether an election is mandated, this provision imposes new roadblocks for employees seeking union representation.

Another provision undermining the ability of employees to secure union representation is a proposed change in the way union run-off elections are handled. Under the proposed language, if Union A receives 40 percent of the votes and Union B receives 25 percent of the votes and the remaining 35 percent of the employees vote ``no union,'' then the run-off will be between Union A and no union. This is true even though 65 percent of the employees indicated they wanted a union and soundly defeated the ``no union'' option.

Most problematic, however, is the provision in the bill relating to ``showing of interest,'' requiring 50 percent of employees to sign up just to have an election. That is the same percentage of employees that would warrant union certification were the Employee Free Choice Act enacted into law.

This is the first time in history that Congress is legislating a showing of interest requirement in any federal labor law. Were this ``showing of interest'' provision to be applied in a merger setting, a larger employer that merges with a somewhat smaller airline will virtually guarantee there will be no unions on the merged property because where large numbers of employees are furloughed, it is virtually impossible for unions to meet the 50 percent threshold.

Taken together, these provisions constitute impose an intolerable burden on the ability of working men and women to bargain collectively over the terms and conditions of employment. I cannot support a legislative proposal that includes such provisions.

As one who born and raised in the House of Labor, educated in the School of Business, and who spent 14 years working in the corporate world, I stand ready to continue working with my colleagues, the Administration, industry and labor to develop and pass legislation that is beneficial and in the best interests of management, labor, government, and the public.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill and once again urge this House to come forth with a clean long-term FAA reauthorization that will not impede workers rights.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a particularly exciting event that will be held this weekend in my district. On February 10th-12th, The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will take place at the Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson, California. The competition will welcome 230 athletes from 30 countries, including United States athletes: Allison Jones, Greta Neimanas, Clark Rachfal, Jennifer Schuble, Aaron Trent and California's very own, Anthony Zahn.

The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships are the world championships for track cycling and is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation, visual impairment, spinal cord injury, wheelchair-users and cerebral palsy.

The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships serves as the final qualifying event for U.S. athletes to be nominated to the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team which will compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London this summer.

Mr. Speaker, the Paralympics are a major international multi-sport event, similar to the Olympics, for athletes with physical disabilities. Over 4,000 athletes from 146 countries compete in the games, which run in parallel with the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. The goal of the Paralympics is to empower persons with disabilities through sport.

Since its creation, the Paralympic games have been inspiring those with physical handicaps to realize their potential and strive to achieve their dreams. The Paralympics are making a difference in the lives of thousands of physically disabled people every day by focusing on participants' athletic achievements and ability rather than their limitations.

Mr. Speaker, I have always been a big supporter of the Paralympics and their goals and that is why I am pleased that this year, the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held at the Home Depot Center in the 37th Congressional District. This marks the first time that the Home Depot Center will host a Paralympic event in its facility's history and just the second time ever, that the UCI Para- cycling Track World Championships will be held in the United States.

The Home Depot Center, home of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA, is designated as an ``Official U.S. Olympic Training Site,'' and is the first and only permanent indoor track of international standard in North America. It is a state-of-the-art facility that has brought much attention and prestige to my district.

In March 2011, I was able to join U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in support of the ``See Something, Say Something'' campaign, which has since expanded to include The Home Depot Center. The campaign raises public awareness of indicators of terrorism and violent crime and encourages average citizens to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that my district is able to host such an extraordinary event that continues to empower people with disabilities and in the process, inspire people around the world. I am sure that the people of California will embrace the spirit of the Games and will cheer on the athletes as they compete for the Paralympic games this summer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Rosa Parks,

whose extraordinary deeds and achievements performed with great moral and physical courage and quiet determination, make her one of the most consequential persons of the 20th Century.

Rosa Parks, who was born 99 years ago today in Tuskegee, Alabama, ignited the modern civil rights movement in the United States in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Rosa Parks stood up for justice and equality by this simple act of sitting down. And her quiet courage and dedication to the cause of justice and equality led her to join Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others in launching the Montgomery Bus Boycott, an act of civil disobedience that changed America, and forever coined Ms. Parks as the first lady of civil rights.

Ms. Parks' act of quiet civil disobedience inspired similar protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, marches, and other non-violent direct action across the segregated south, including the ``Little Rock Nine'' in Little Rock, Arkansas in September 1957, where nine black students were blocked from entering the formerly all-white Central High School leading to government intervention; the famous ``Greensboro sit-in'' on February 1, 1960 where four black students refused to leave a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth's lunch counter after being refused service; the Freedom Rides during the Spring and Summer of 1961 in which young black and white students, referred to as ``freedom riders,'' began taking bus trips through the South to challenge Jim Crow practices banning integration in interstate transportation; and the 1965 ``March from Selma to Montgomery'' for voting rights, during which occurred ``Bloody Sunday,'' the event that shocked and horrified the Nation and led directly to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

As a leading activist for civil rights and equality, Ms. Parks actively advocated for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was present at the signing into law of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by President Johnson.

Ms. Parks continued her work for civil equality and rights and served on the staff of U.S. Representative John Conyers. Her strong belief in the constitutional principles of equality and freedom led her to establish the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development in 1977. The institute strives to teach children throughout the U.S. about the history of their country and of the civil rights movement. Her efforts in the fight for civil rights earned her the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999.

Upon her death in 2005, Rosa Parks was the first woman and second non-U.S. government official granted the posthumous honor of lying in honor at the Capitol Rotunda. Hundreds of thousands of mourners came to pay their final respects to the ``First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement.''

Now, a year before the anniversary of her 100th birthday, her work lives on as we continue to fight for justice and equality in this Nation. As Ms. Parks once said, ``As long as there is unemployment, war, crime and all things that go to the infliction of man's inhumanity to man, regardless--there is much to be done, and people need to work together.''

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in honor and remembrance of Rosa Parks, a heroine of courage and a pioneer for civil rights in the history of this Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me for a moment of silence in memory of the great Rosa Parks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1162, which authorizes the transfer of lands within and around the Olympic National Park in the state of Washington. H.R. 1162 would incorporate specified federal lands within the Olympic National Park and specified land owned by the Quileute Tribe into the Quileute Indian Reservation, held in trust by the federal government.

The Quileute people and their reservation are in danger. Most of the reservation is located within the flood zone and most of the tribal infrastructure, including their school, elder centers, and housing, is within the tsunami zone. This legislation will provide protection to the 375 residents of the Quileute Indian Reservation by transferring a few hundred acres from the vast Olympic National Park to the Tribe.

As a member of the Native American Caucus, I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to address the needs of Native Americans. This legislation will provide the Quileute Indian Tribe with approximately 275 acres of land currently located within the Olympic National Park and approximately 510 acres of land along the Quillayute River.

Mr. Speaker, the proposed land transfer will allow the people of Quileute Indian Tribe to relocate their schools and other structures to safer lands. Based on information from the Department of Interior, CB0 estimates that H.R. 1162 would have no significant impact on the federal budget.

California is home to over one hundred federally recognized tribes. Tribes from my state and from other states such as the Quileute Indian Tribe from the state of Washington need protection from natural disasters such as tsunamis and floods.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1162 and allow the Quileute Indian Tribe to relocate their people and reservation to safer land away from the frequent tsunami risk that threaten the Tribe.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize February as American Heart Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and spreading knowledge in order to save lives. Heart disease is the gravest health risk for women in the United States and will take the lives of 420,000 women this year. During this month, I encourage all women to strive to be more proactive about our health and well-being.

Mr. Speaker, heart disease is a harsh reality in our nation and is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Because information is the most powerful tool against fighting heart disease, let us advance women's heart health through advocacy and education. It is a fact that the chance of developing heart disease can be dramatically reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Many, but not all, cases of heart diseases can be prevented. A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons women have to fight heart disease. Women should be aware of risk factors that can lead to heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and family history. By working together, we can help women live stronger and longer lives.

While heart disease affects women of every race and circumstance, African American women have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than Caucasian women and are less aware of their cardiovascular risk factors. I urge all women in the United States to be more proactive about their heart health. It is never too early to take action to improve our heart health, and the Obama Administration is committed to helping Americans fight chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease.

Under the Affordable Care Act, all new individual and group health plans must now provide recommended preventative care and services without a copayment, coinsurance or deductible. These potentially lifesaving screenings include blood pressure, cholesterol tests as well as counseling on losing weight and eating well.

In addition, the Affordable Care Act has administered over $100 million in funding for up to 75 Community Transformation Grants, which are aimed at helping communities implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases, such as heart disease. These grants will help improve health, reduce health disparities, and lower health care costs.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize February as American Heart Month. This month let us rededicate ourselves to helping our sisters, mothers, daughters, friends and communities become more aware of the risks and symptoms of heart disease. February 3, 2012 is National Wear Red Day and I urge my friends, family and colleagues to wear red in support for the more than 42 million women are living with or are at risk for heart disease. Together, we can overcome this disease.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Mildred Garcia, President of California State University, Dominguez Hills, who was recently named the new president of California State University, Fullerton by the California State University Board of Trustees.

California State University, Dominguez Hills--located in my congressional district--has benefitted greatly from Dr. Garcia's leadership. Dr. Garcia is the first Latina to ever hold the title of president at a university in the CSU system, and her track record of success at CSU Dominguez Hills offers a shining example to university presidents across the nation. Her hard work and commitment to public education has helped to raise the status of the university in our community and across the state of California.

Dr. Garcia, the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants, grew up of humble means in Brooklyn, New York. The second youngest of seven children, Dr. Garcia worked as a secretary to put herself through college and understood that the key to opportunity and success is a good education. After receiving two masters degrees from NYU and Columbia, Dr. Garcia went on to obtain her Ed.D. from Columbia University, Teachers College.

Before coming to CSU Dominguez Hills, Dr. Garcia taught at Arizona State University and spent ten years as the president of Berkeley College in New York. Over the past four and a half years, Dr. Garcia has worked diligently to elevate the status of CSU Dominguez Hills. When she began her tenure at Dominguez Hills, the university was struggling to meet enrollment targets and had an incoming freshman class with an average high school GPA below 3.0.

Dr. Garcia has been able to raise enrollment levels to a record high of 15,000 students. In 2010-11 CSU Dominguez Hills received 27,036 student applications, an increase of 62 percent compared to 2006-07. CSU Dominguez Hills is also enjoying higher retention and graduation rates, and is becoming a more popular option for students just graduating from high school. Dr. Garcia has also

been successful at increasing alumni donor participation by 400 percent, and securing the university's first-ever endowed professorship.

During Dr. Garcia's tenure as President of CSU Dominguez Hills, her leadership and commitment helped to make the university a hub for higher education in the South Bay and greater Los Angeles. In 2008 CSU Dominguez Hills was awarded the highest possible evaluation from Western Association of Schools and Colleges, receiving a rare 10-year reaccreditation.

Upon Dr. Garcia's arrival, CSU Dominguez Hills faced a $2.8 million structural deficit, with the state appropriation of $71,489,966. Under her leadership, the university successfully eliminated its structural deficit in spite of the continued decrease in state appropriation, which today is $59,766,882 (a 16 percent decrease).

Under Dr. Garcia's leadership, CSU Dominguez Hills has won federal grants to help expand online education access to students, improve the quality of teaching in high-need schools by creating model teacher preparation and teaching residency programs, and provide students the support they need to complete their studies and graduate. All of these initiatives have helped to make CSU Dominguez Hills graduates active players in our economic recovery by improving community spirit, inspiring local business growth and lowering the local unemployment rate.

Last summer, Dr. Garcia was chosen by President Barack Obama to serve on the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. As a member of this commission, Dr. Garcia has been tasked with advising the President and Education Secretary Duncan on ways to improve the success rates of Hispanic students across the country.

At the conclusion of this academic year, Dr. Garcia will take her talent for leadership to California State University, Fullerton, one of California's largest universities. Although CSU Dominguez Hills is sad to see Dr. Garcia leave its campus, the legacy of her work and her impact on the community will continue to have an influence the university for years to come.

I am proud to have worked closely with Dr. Garcia to help make CSU Dominguez Hills a model urban public university, and I am sure she will bring the same enthusiasm for success to CSU Fullerton. Although she will no longer be working in my district, I am positive that Dr. Garcia and I will continue our work together to ensure that every student in California has access to a quality and affordable college education.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Mildred Garcia for her appointment to become the next president of CSU Fullerton.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 98 because it is an empty gesture designed to waste time and provide a stage for political posturing.

One hundred and seventy four House Republicans voted for the Budget Control Act in August which raised the federal debt limit and allowed the country to make good on the promises it made to the American people.

Under the Budget Control Act, the debt limit increase that the President is requesting is automatically matched, dollar-for-dollar, by drastic spending cuts that target the poorest among us. Those cuts would hurt the people I represent in California's 37th District, and so I voted against it.

Despite strong opposition from both sides, the Budget Control Act was passed, with a number of useless and unfair provisions, including this disapproval resolution, which lets House Republicans who voted for it in August turn around and withdraw their support.

In this way, they can stand here today and make the same irresponsible arguments that they made last summer. Instead of working together to implement the American Jobs Act which would help create jobs and improve economic growth, they have chosen to squabble over the ability of the President of the United States to do his job.

As ridiculous as it sounds, this is the trick that House Republicans are trying to play. It is entirely symbolic, of course, because if this resolution were to become law, it would result in the first default in U.S. history. A vote for this resolution is a vote against the full faith and credit of the United States and a slap in the face to its citizens.

This kind of behavior is the main reason that Congress has lost the trust of the American people. It creates tremendous uncertainty within the business community and impedes economic growth. It also provides a terrible example to the rest of the world that should be able to look to us for guidance in times of turmoil.

I urge my colleagues to reject this empty legislation and focus on creating a responsible, long-term budget that puts people back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, an appropriate reminder of Dr. King's legacy, the civil rights struggle and the importance of serving one's community to make the country stronger.

Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy is a symbol of the American values of progress, peace, and equality that have come to define American exceptionalism. Although we still have a long way to go to reach Dr. King's promised land, the strides taken toward racial equality since his March on Washington are a testament to the power of his non-violent message.

On this day, we not only celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, but we commit ourselves to giving back to our communities. Dr. King's spirit compels us to use this day to volunteer our time in service of our neighborhoods. This year, millions of Americans across the country demonstrated their commitment to Dr. King's vision of a better world by offering their help to countless service projects and activities nationwide.

Dr. King once said ``the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.'' It is on this day--nearly 44 years after his death--that we remember his words and continue our struggle toward racial, social, and

economic justice. While an assassin may have felled the Dreamer; the dream of Dr. King still lives in the hearts and minds of people of goodwill everywhere in the world.

In these tough economic times, it is important to remember the message Dr. King espoused--non-violence, determination, peace, and justice. These values have seen us through the tumultuous uproar of the 1960s and continue to persevere today.

Dr. King's words not only inspired social movements in the United States, but were a heavy influence in Poland, the nations of eastern and central Europe, and more recently in Egypt and Tunisia.

Dr. King, Jr., recognized that the struggle for civil rights and workers' rights were inextricably linked. Both required that the basic rights of all people are equal and ought to be honored equally, whether by an employer or by the United States government. It is by the light of his example that we should confront the hardships that face this generation of American citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the gift of hope that Dr. King gave to so many and to remember the dream that he so eloquently articulated. We remember Dr. King's sacrifice and resolve to keep his dream alive through tolerance, altruism and community service.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Lawrence Kenneth Davis, Korean War Veteran and father of California State Assemblyman Mike Davis.

Lawrence Davis died on Saturday, December 4, 2011, at his home in Long Beach. He was 81 years old.

Mr. Davis was born on June 27, 1930 in North Carolina. After graduating from Highland High School in his home state, he went on to attend college at Johnson C. Smith University where he served as a member of the Varsity Football team. While there he met Myrtle Elizabeth Antrum, who he would later marry. After graduation, Lawrence began his career as a faithful employee of Piedmont Heat Treating Company.

Mr. Davis was full of life, eager to learn and deeply involved in his community. While employed at Piedmont Heat Treating Company, Davis worked diligently to receive certification as a metallurgical technician. Mr. Davis' strong work ethic and passion for his trade was demonstrated in whatever task he was assigned.

After his time at the Piedmont Heat Treating Company, Mr. Davis became the Chief of Security at Burt Lynn Middle School where many took note of his passion for his job. He also worked as a referee at local basketball games and entertained the audience with tunes such as ``The Stars and Stripes Forever'' and would ``wow'' the crowd with his roller skating skills.

After moving to California, Mr. Davis' love for learning would lead him to enroll in Los Angeles Trade Technical College where he earned his Associate's Degree in Science. It was in Los Angeles that Lawrence Davis chose to raise his family. His son, Mike Davis, would go on to become a member of the California State Assembly and Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on Mr. Davis life let us remember his commitment, love, and passion for service to his community and his country. His inquisitive and youthful nature left a lasting impression on those he encountered every day.

I would like to request a moment of silence in his honor and memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of January as National Stalking Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to increasing public understanding of the crime of stalking as well as helping to improve law enforcement's response to stalking in an attempt to hopefully putting an end to this terrifying crime. As a nation, we need to take the necessary action to prevent stalking before it occurs.

Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime, but a series of acts directed at a single person with the intention to cause fear through threats, intimidation and/or nonconsensual or unwanted communication. Victims of stalking face profound consequences, such as high levels of stress, fear and anxiety.

Stalking is a dangerous reality that affects thousands of Americans every year. In the United States, stalking affects 3.4 million people each year. Further, one in six women and one in 19 men in the United States have been victimized by stalking at some point in their lifetime.

January offers time to focus on a crime that is vastly under- reported. Due to threats, intimidation, fear of retribution, or lack of an adequate support system, a large number of victims do not report stalking to law enforcement. Stalking is often a precursor to more serious crimes and it can be dangerous if left unreported. If you or someone you know is the victim of stalking, I urge you to come forward and get the protection you need.

As of September 1993, all 50 states and the District of Columbia had passed some type of anti-stalking legislation and in 1996, Congress passed the federal stalking law. This is great progress. Until the passage of anti-stalking laws, victims had few remedies and limited options.

The Obama administration has taken significant strides to identify and prevent stalking. President Obama was the first President to proclaim January as National Stalking Awareness Month and his administration has gone to great lengths to create a strategy to combat violence against women. In addition, stalking is one of the four crimes addressed in the Violence Against Women Act and the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women is a leader in the fight to reduce stalking. While we are currently taking steps in the right direction, there is room for progress.

I would like to take time to commend Peace over Violence and Safe at Home, for all the work they do to protect victims in my district. Peace over Violence is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing stalking and domestic violence in the Los Angeles area. Peace over Violence offers Emergency, Intervention, Prevention, Education and Advocacy services as well as a 24-hour hotline for victims. Safe at Home, California's address confidentiality program, is administered by the California Secretary of State's office. The program provides a free post office box and mail forwarding services designed to help stalking and other domestic violence victims. Safe at Home offers services that include confidentiality for children, as well as confidential name change, voter registration and the suppression of Department of Motor Vehicle records. Both Peace over Violence and Safe at Home provide victims of stalking with protection, relief and a sense of safety.

Stalking is serious, unpredictable and can often escalate over time. To effectively respond to stalking, we must do more to promote public awareness about stalking and support victims of this crime. Let us work together to advance protection services for stalking victims and expanded educational services. The more people learn to recognize stalking, the warning signs and the dangers, the better chance we have to protect victims and prevent tragedies.

Mr. Speaker, as I rise today to observe National Stalking Awareness Day, I encourage all Americans to come together to prevent stalking before it occurs and I encourage victims to get help by reporting harassment and stalking to the proper authorities.